Pastrami to go with that cold beer? Check Troy

A longstanding complaint about the Capital Region dining scene is the absence of real New York City-style delicatessans.

What can deli fans do when they want real deli food to cart home and enjoy with a cold beer or a glass of potent red wine?

The few that had been in the area have essentially died out, with a rare exception such as Gershon’s in Schenectady. On top of that, Price Chopper’s recent decision to drop most deli meat brands except for Boar’s Head has left many consumers high and dry and with few alternatives.

Early next month, deli aficionadoes and disaffected Price Chopper customers alike will have a chance to try a new venture, Uncle Ricky’s Bagel Heaven, scheduled to open for business at 1809 Fifth Avenue, Troy, space formerly occupied by a hair salon.

Uncle Ricky’s is the brainchild of Rick Wilson (above), a veteran of the food industry who promises a New York City style establishment, complete with sofas for lingering and a fireplace for coziness.

Wilson has worked in a wide range of food service enterprises, most recently with Sodexho at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he created a bagel station. He makes all his own bagel spreads.